AgTech Digest

Welcome back, listeners! In today's episode, we dive into the latest strides in AgTech, featuring an analysis of how capital and consolidation are dividing the global crop sector, Rob Eddy on horticulture education for greenhouse builders, a $45 million NSF research award for NDSU, DENSO's agri-food acquisition, LettUs Grow's commercial-scale vitamin B12 breakthrough, and CIBO Technologies partnering with Ingredion on regenerative agriculture data. Let's get started!Here’s a Quick Snapshot of What’s Making Headlines:Analysis: The Agricultural Divide: how capital, consolidation, and innovation are segmenting the global crop sector across vegetables, cereals, legumes, and fruitsInterview: Rob Eddy on why the design and construction industry needs horticulture education — Resource Innovation Institute launches greenhouse workforce certification programResearch: NDSU receives $45M NSF award for AgTech Engine expansion; CAAIN launches $9M open competition to advance Canadian agri-food technologyRobotics & CEA: Nature Robots secures 4M euros seed funding to scale autonomous farming software; LettUs Grow achieves vitamin B12-fortified pea shoots at commercial scalePartnerships: Bom Group and HX Agriculture sign long-term greenhouse partnership in China; CIBO Technologies partners with Ingredion to scale regenerative agriculture data platformM&A & Infra: DENSO acquires stake in FoodVentures making it a consolidated subsidiary; Gevo plans second ethanol facility expansion at its North Dakota siteRegional: La Zone Agtech welcomes Ferme O Menu and Fermes Borea to MRC de L'Assomption; Casterra reports successful commercial castor field trials in BrazilEvents: Animal AgTech (Fort Worth), Future Fit Asia (Singapore), Fiber Connect (Orlando), Transform Food Europe (Amsterdam), Greentech Amsterdam (Netherlands)Read The Full Summary On The Latest Issue Of IGROW NEWS----------------------------------------------------Stay up to date on the latest in AgTech with IGROW NEWSSubscribe to Vertical Farming PodcastPowered by The AgTech Media Group----------------------------------------------------

Welcome back, listeners! In today's episode, we dive into the latest strides in AgTech, featuring eleven funding rounds totaling $323 million and a 2026 year-to-date total of $946 million, Jim Kras on Edible Garden's shift into finished goods and ready-to-drink products, Halter's $220 million Series E for virtual fencing, Ecorobotix's $50 million US manufacturing pledge, and Volta Greentech's European feed additive launch. Let's get started!Here’s a Quick Snapshot of What’s Making Headlines:Overview: 11 companies close funding rounds totaling approximately $323M, bringing the 2026 year-to-date total to $946M across livestock tech, robotics, CEA, and sustainable financeInterview: Jim Kras on Edible Garden's shift from produce grower to finished goods supplier — Tetra Pak partnership, 200,000 sq ft Midwest facility, and RTD protein drinks under the Kick brandLivestock Tech: Halter raises $220M Series E to expand virtual fencing technology for livestock managementPrecision Ag: Miraterra raises $16M to scale AI-driven soil intelligence platform; Agrim raises $17.3M Series B led by Asia Impact FundRobotics & CEA: Ecorobotix to assemble precision sprayers in Kansas with $50M US investment pledge; Swegreen secures $2.2M to scale in-store farming operationsM&A & Infra: Total Seed Production acquires Bayer's Windfall soybean facility in Indiana; Equinox Growers greenhouse facility sold to Taylor FarmsBiotech: Cauldron Ferm raises $13.25M Series A2 to scale hyper-fermentation platform; Volta Greentech raises 1.7M euros from Axel Johnson Group for European feed additive launchResearch: University of Essex joins the 35.4M pound PhenomUK plant research initiativeEvents: AgTech Pitch Lounge (March 31st), Animal AgTech (Fort Worth), Future Fit Asia (Singapore), Fiber Connect (Orlando), Transform Food Europe (Amsterdam), Greentech AmsterdamRead The Full Summary On The Latest Issue Of IGROW NEWS----------------------------------------------------Stay up to date on the latest in AgTech with IGROW NEWSSubscribe to Vertical Farming PodcastPowered by The AgTech Media Group----------------------------------------------------

Welcome back, listeners! In today's episode, we dive into the latest strides in AgTech, featuring the farm labor crisis accelerating a $400 million autonomous technology wave, Julia Wilkinson on capital allocation for agriculture as foundational infrastructure, Solugen's $50 million organic nitrogen fertilizer raise, Syngenta's $130 million BioSTaR research center opening, Fresh Del Monte's $285 million acquisition, and Carbon Robotics crossing $100 million in annual revenue. Let's get started!Here’s a Quick Snapshot of What’s Making Headlines:Analysis: Farm labor crisis fuels AgTech automation surge — 63 new autonomous products in 15 months, nearly $400M in labor-replacement venture fundingInterview: Julia Wilkinson, CIO and Managing Partner at LEBEC, on rethinking capital allocation for agriculture as foundational infrastructure, not venture-style betsFertilizer: ICL opens specialty fertilizer plant in India; Solugen raises $50M to scale organic nitrogen fertilizer production across Quebec and the USInfrastructure: Reservoir opens flagship AgTech innovation hub in Salinas with 24 acres of test fields; Syngenta opens $130M BioSTaR biological sciences research center at Jealott's HillM&A: Fresh Del Monte completes $285M acquisition of Del Monte Foods assets, reuniting the brand under single ownership for the first time in nearly four decadesBiologicals: Frontera Ag acquires PlantSustain to strengthen biological crop protection platform; Resurrect Bio and Corteva sign joint development agreement for disease-resistant cornRobotics: Carbon Robotics surpasses $100M annual revenue milestone and appoints new CFOEvents: Animal AgTech (Fort Worth), Regenerative Agriculture (LA), Future Fit Asia (Singapore), Fiber Connect (Orlando), Transform Food Europe (Amsterdam)Read The Full Summary On The Latest Issue Of IGROW NEWS----------------------------------------------------Stay up to date on the latest in AgTech with IGROW NEWSSubscribe to Vertical Farming PodcastPowered by The AgTech Media Group----------------------------------------------------

In this bonus episode of AgTech Digest, Sepehr Achard sits down with Afzal Hussain Mohammed Nakheeb , the visionary founder and head of strategy at T57. Together, they embark on a thoughtful journey through the complex world of food security, agtech innovation, and the hidden challenges faced by farmers around the globe.Discover why, despite producing more food than required, hundreds of millions still go hungry—and how T57 is tackling critical issues like food waste, market access for small producers, and the disruptive role of technology. Afzal Hussain shares eye-opening anecdotes from international projects, dives deep into the reality of trade finance complexities, and reveals how AI can empower everyone from the smallest farmer to the largest food manufacturer.Curious about how new models and digital platforms can dismantle traditional middlemen, or what the future of AI-driven agriculture might hold by 2035? This episode is packed with real-world examples, bold ideas, and a compelling vision for a smarter, more equitable food ecosystem. Don’t miss the chance to hear firsthand how innovation is reshaping the global food landscape, one problem at a time.https://www.linkedin.com/in/afzalhussain/http://t57.ai/----------------------------------------------------Stay up to date on the latest in AgTech with IGROW NEWSSubscribe to Vertical Farming PodcastSubscribe to Greenhouse Success StoriesPowered by The AgTech Media Group----------------------------------------------------

Welcome back, listeners! In today's episode, we dive into the latest strides in AgTech, featuring the ag-biotech sector's shift from code to factory infrastructure, Tropic's $105 million Series C for gene-edited crop scaling, Living Models' AI platform interpreting plant DNA, KOMO Biosciences and Syngenta's maize genome partnership, and the sobering reality of two industry bankruptcies. Let's get started!Here’s a Quick Snapshot of What’s Making Headlines:Analysis: The Seed Signal: ag-biotech's shift from code to factory — the Staple Renaissance, compressed timelines, and the new competitive moatFunding: Tropic secures $105M Series C to scale gene-edited banana and rice; Living Models exits stealth with $7M seed to map the language of plants using AIEarly Stage: Ag Startup Engine closes $7M seed fund for AgTech founders; Cytotrait secures $4M to advance MOSS chloroplast and mitochondria gene engineeringPartnerships: KOMO Biosciences and Syngenta partner on non-viral maize genome engineering; Horticoop invests in AI breeding specialist 25:2 for European expansionInnovation: IBI Ag completes proof of concept for AI-driven bioinsecticide platform; ADAMA launches Ateka insecticide with Ayalon Formulation TechnologyConsolidation: AgroIntelli seeks new ownership after bankruptcy order in Denmark; Artechno declared bankrupt by court in Den Haag following suspension of paymentEvents: World Agri-Tech (San Francisco), Animal AgTech (Fort Worth), Future Fit Asia (Singapore), Fiber Connect (Orlando), Transform Food Europe (Amsterdam)Read The Full Summary On The Latest Issue Of IGROW NEWS----------------------------------------------------Stay up to date on the latest in AgTech with IGROW NEWSSubscribe to Vertical Farming PodcastPowered by The AgTech Media Group----------------------------------------------------